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Philippines--Leyte

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Letter from Leonard Wood to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Leonard Wood to Theodore Roosevelt

General Wood needs to take a leave of absence to take his son home to the United States to put him into school at Groton Academy, and details his plans for travel during his absence. Wood encloses a response from Adjutant General Fred C. Ainsworth authorizing Wood’s return home. Wood is glad to continue on duty in the Philippines and considers it the best command in the service.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-01-18

Report on the Leyte troubles

Report on the Leyte troubles

Major Wise reports on the insurrection and unrest currently happening on Leyte. The insurrection and unrest are growing, and the local government is doing little to stop it. The United States government is unpopular there, and the writer reports that the Leyte locals are uninterested in their system of government. Most of the people are “practically peons of the powerful or wealthy class,” making them easily swayed to join insurrections. The “native press” is also a drawback for the United States. The writer believes that they are given too much freedom to criticize the United States and their system of government consistently misappropriates the situation, which misleads locals.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-24

Letter from Leonard Wood to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Leonard Wood to Theodore Roosevelt

Leonard Wood realizes he has not written President Roosevelt in some time, and so updates him on various events in the Philippines. The major disturbances in Samar and Leyte are over, and aside from occasional police work, American troops are not needed to keep the peace. Wood describes the military training over the year, culminating in a Division Meet. Wood is pleased that Roosevelt has issued orders regarding the physical health of field officers, and emphasizes that if Roosevelt could see how officers who are near retirement perform, he would enthusiastically back Wood’s push to base promotions and retirement on the qualifications of individuals. Wood describes his belief that officers are responsible for leading by example, and had hoped that officers could devote more time to their troops and less to administrative work. Wood says more officer training is required in horsemanship.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1907-07-01

Letter from Leonard Wood to Theodore Roosevelt

Letter from Leonard Wood to Theodore Roosevelt

General Wood informs President Roosevelt about the situation in the Philippines, reporting that besides the areas of Leyte and Samor, the situation is relatively quiet. He recommends that America keep the islands garrisoned to prevent agitators from upsetting order. Wood opines that the Filipinos are far behind Cuba on the path to deserving independence, but praises the Spanish for having evangelized and civilized the Philippines. Wood recommends the recovering Lieutenant Gordon Johnston for the Medal of Honor. Wood plans to send his family home to the United States for the children’s schooling, and after the Filipino elections hopes himself to visit France and Germany to observe military maneuvers and methods there. Wood hopes afterwards to be appointed to New York where he can work on seacoast defense, but is willing to return to the Philippines if requested. Wood also discusses his opinions on the results of the Russo-Japanese War.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-11-18

Letter from David Jessup Doherty to William H. Taft

Letter from David Jessup Doherty to William H. Taft

David Jessup Doherty provides Governor Taft with an explanation for Archbishop John Mary Harty’s letter to Governor Henry C. Ide. Doherty says that a last minute obstacle in the lease of the San Juan de Dios hospital caused Harty to be in such a mood as to write the way he did. Doherty further urges Taft to require that Commissioners go in person to disturbed districts, as Ide has done in Leyte. The most frequent complaint Doherty hears among Filipinos is that they get no chance at administrative work, and he hopes more bureau directorships will be given to Filipinos. Doherty tells Taft that he need not be concerned about politics in the Philippines, as the real worry is about economics.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-29

Letter from David Jessup Doherty to William H. Taft

Letter from David Jessup Doherty to William H. Taft

David Jessup Doherty updates Secretary of War Taft on various situations in the Philippines. The Leyte uprising is being resolved peacefully. Doherty believes that diplomatic, rather than military, measures are the best way to solve uprisings. Doherty also believes that the land tax policy in the Philippines is unfair to many Filipinos, and that an internal revenue tax would be better. Doherty also writes about the prospects of independence, as many groups and factions want independence.

Collection

Library of Congress Manuscript Division

Creation Date

1906-08-17